Irrigation in a Short Water Year, Monday March 9th

Making Every Drop Count!

^{by C. Cheyney, Extension Educator}

With the Big Lost River Basin at 85 percent of normal and the Little Lost River Basin better at 98% of normal snowpack, it looks like it might be a second challenging year for some irrigators.  To help irrigators cope with the possible reduced amounts of irrigation water, the University of Idaho Extension will present a two hour program on Monday, March 9^th at 6:30 PM in suite 204 of the Arco Butte Business Incubation Center.

The program will feature Dr. Howard Neibling, Extension Irrigation Specialist and Dr. Glenn Shewmaker, Extension Forage Specialist, both stationed at the Kimberly Research and Extension Center in the Magic Valley. 

Subjects to be discussed include

a)      A method of retrofitting center pivot systems that show increased irrigation efficiency by reducing evaporation during water application.

b)      Irrigation scheduling systems that help keep the soil profile full without over-irrigation

c)       When to turn the water off for cereal production (or alternatively will the crop make?)

d)      Leaks: How to stop loosing water and money

e)      Effects of timing and amount of deficit irrigation on alfalfa production and stand life.

National Resource Conservation Service Snotel Data for February 27^th,2015

Site	Elev- ation	Cur rent	Today’s Median	Median Peak	Median Peak Date	% Todays Median	% Peak Median
BIG LOST BASIN
Bear Canyon	7900	9.1	11.5	14.6	Apr 06	79	62
Hilts Creek	8000	8.7	9.9	11.8	Mar 31	88	74
Lost-Wood Divide	7900	13.4	15.7	18.6	Mar 31	85	72
Smiley Mountain	9520	11.1	13.7R	21.2	May 15	81	52
Stickney Mill	7430	6.7	6.6	7.5	Mar 30	102	89
Basin Index (%)		85					66
LITTLE LOST, BIRCH BASINS
Beagle Springs	8850	6.1	6.2	9.5	Apr 23	98	64
Hilts Creek	8000	8.7	9.9	11.8	Mar 31	88	74
Meadow Lake	9150	10.5	11.2	15.1	Apr 25	94	70
Moonshine	7440	8.7	7.5	8.8	Mar 21	116	99
Basin Index (%)		98					75